Book One
of
"The Tantalizing Powers of Magic and War Series"
The Legacy Has Begun
Book One
1
Kelly An'Tanis was totally exhausted. She had had a very long and enduring day. She had awoken before the crack of dawn, ate a quick breakfast of hard bread and cheese and then journeyed to the schoolhouse where she taught her most gifted young students. Kelly was a white wizard and had been one for over three centuries. She had been elevated to instructor nearly eighty years ago and been teaching students ever since. She taught reading and mathematics as well as the properties of wizardry. She had four promising students in the classroom that she taught until midday and then she walked an extra three miles further away from her home where she taught her two advanced students their lessons. In the late afternoon she would excuse her students and began walking back the seven miles to her modest cottage. She rarely arrived home before the sun was setting behind the tall snow-capped Snowflake Mountains to the west. She would then eat a meager fare of vegetable stew and hard bread and leisure in her reading chair the only real piece of furniture within her small cottage besides her rough-timbered bed. She would then study continuously in her precious book "The Miracle Works of Wizardry" by the light and warmth of a small fireplace.
Kelly was doing just that right now when she felt her eyelids slowly fall shut. A loud pop from the small fireplace sounded and she jerked awake suddenly startled. She had nearly fallen asleep in her chair and almost dropped her precious book in the process. She rose from the chair, placed the book in its seat, walked over to the fireplace, and put a large oak log on the fire. Then she crossed the small room to her bed, pulled down the down-filled quilt so that she could crawl into bed. She fluffed up her feather pillow and sank her head down into its softness. She pulled the comforter up to her chin and watched the firelight as it flickered about the room. Soon she was sleeping deeply and dreaming a wonderful and strange dream . . .
. . . Kelly found herself positioned on a large platform of white marble with a hazy fog lightly wisping around in fingered tendrils. In front of her, however, was the most impressive thing she noticed about her surroundings. The figure was very tall, like a statue, and well-proportioned. He had long hair that rode down to the tops of his wide shoulders and a full white mustache and beard. He wore a glistening white satin robe and in his left hand was a tall slender white oak staff with an owl carved into its crest. In his other hand he held a gleaming white stone in the shape of a globe.
He was looking directly at Kelly's sky blue eyes with a look of seriousness etched upon his face. Then he relaxed, smiled, and then said to her. "My child, Kelly An'Tanis. It is very reassuring that you are with me at a time like this."
Kelly immediately dropped to her knees knowing that this could be only one entity and that was her God, Traxias. She bowed her head deeply staring at the floor of the white marble platform without a word of response.
"No, child. Rise. I have something very, very important to tell you."
Kelly An'Tanis slowly rose to her feet feeling herself suddenly breathing heavily, in reality gasping for breath.
Traxias walked over to where he was looking down directly at her, and said to her in a deep, resonate voice. "Kelly An'Tanis? Gifted child. I have a very important task for you to perform. As you well know wars and battles and strife has been breaking out all over the Ten Kingdoms of the continent of Babashalon. But, I believe I have found a solution to bringing peace and tranquility to all of the Ten Kingdoms. This will be done through the power I have invested in an item that I call "The Peace Stone" and it is right here in my possession for you to cast your eyes upon." Traxias reached out with his left hand and showed the gleaming white stone to the mystified Kelly. She eyed the glowing white stone with a mysterious looked upon her face. The God continued in his resonate voice. "I need you, child, to take this precious stone to Mount Charnel in the Quawear Mountain in the far away Kingdom of Quentaria. Once there you will find a special cave among many where you will place the stone upon a white marble altar and leave the Kingdom of Quentaria. You will immediately know that it is the right cave and the right altar. The stone will begin to glow from the power of being mated with the right white marble altar. I cannot tell just which cave it is. This among other things you must find out on your own. I do know, however, that you must be very careful on this quest. You must not be seen or attract unwanted and undesired attention to what you are doing. For if you are observed the enemies to the success of the journey will pursue you and try to take the stone away from you before it arrives at its final destination." He took in a large breath of air. "If you are unable to accomplish your task then the men, women, children, and the world as we know it will fall into chaos and bitter war. It will a long, hard, and dangerous journey. I will only let you know approximately just how long. It is approximately twenty-five thousand miles to Mount Charnel in the Kingdom of Quentaria. That is as close a figure as I will tell you at this time. Not to mention the dangers and other open possibilities of failure due to unforeseen things. So, Kelly, I suggest that you form a party of well-balanced members and seek out delivering this beautiful white stone to Mount Charnel. In the morning you will find this stone beneath your pillow and this white staff standing beside your door. You will also have a magical creature to accompany you. A small white owl with big bright blue eyes that I call Peko. He will assist and guide you along the dangerous course. Give you direction if you become lost and such. Do you understand what it is I am asking of you, my child?"
Kelly eyed the God intently. "Yes, Traxias. I do understand."
A smile crossed the God's face. "For that I am gladdened. Take this stone to Mount Charnel. Leave directly in the morning and began gathering your party of people. I must leave you for now, but I will meet you again when and if you have performed your task."
Traxias and the white foggy surrounding faded and faded and Kelly . . .
. . . Awoke, suddenly breathless. She jerked up to a sitting position. The night could not have passed so quickly. But, then she noticed that the fire was nearly out. Was it a dream or was it real? she thought. Then she thought of what Traxias had promised her. She lifted the feather pillow with a look of astonishment upon her face. Right there in front of her nestled on the sheet was the gleaming white stone she had seen in Traxias' hand the night before. "The Peace Stone" Traxias had called it. Was it real? she thought. She reached out and fingered the stone and surprisingly it had substance. My God! Kelly thought. It is real! She picked up the gleaming white stone and eyed it deeply in wonder. How could a two-inch round stone have encased within it the power to bring peace and tranquility to all of the Ten Kingdoms of Babashalon? With amazement she looked toward the doorway. A tall slender white oak staff with an owl carved into its crest stood beside the door. The dream must have been real. First there was the appearance of the gleaming white stone and now there was the appearance of the white oak staff. She made her her way swiftly out of bed and over to the staff gripping it tightly in her hand. It was warm to the touch compared to the rest of the room. She then turned from the doorway with the staff in her hand walking over to and putting the two items upon her bed. She crossed over to her small clothes closet and picked out her light blue robe and cloak that had the shapes of white lightning bolt embroidered all over them. She dressed quickly. She belted her leather belt pouch on. She wrapped the stone inside a blue piece of cloth she had been saving for something and deposited the stone into her leather belt pouch locking the clasp securely. She picked up the white oak staff and walked over to the door to take her leave of her small cottage. She knew she should have at least took the time to grab some hard bread and cheese, but she was just now starting out on her quest. Traxias had told her to be direct and punctional.
As she opened the door a soft cool breeze of foggy mist met her in the face nearly taking her breath away. It was extremely foggy outside and misty tendrils swirled around her as she stepped outside the door closing it behind her. The autumn sun would soon be peaking its golden rays over the eastern horizon and the fog would then begin to dissipate.
She quickly began her journey down the pathway that would in the end take her to the dirt road called the Valley Road that would in essence take her to Cleric Robert's house. Cleric Robert was a close and dear friend and would be the first member of her party that she would recruit to go along on this important, dangerous, and long quest. He was an older man in his late forties, but in excellent health and strong. He could weave spells of healing as well as protection and other defensive spells. He would be a great assest to the party that she was forming in her mind. She continued on her way down along the winding pathway. Soon she exited the ponderosa pine forest and out onto the dirt roadway called the Valley Road. She turned left as she began picking up a brisk pace. Traxias had told her to be expedient about the gathering of her party and delivering "The Peace Stone" to its rightful place. It was a long grueling journey to Mount Charnel and would be risky nd full of danger. Once she arrived at Cleric Robert's house she would tell him about the dream, show him "The Peace Stone," and the beautiful white oak staff. He had to believe her. He just had to! He had to believe her at least enough as to take the journey along with her. Cleric Robert also had the messenger pigeons she would need and were necessary to get messages to the other members that she was planning on also taking with her. She kicked a small stone out from in front of her and looked further down along the roadway bringing herself to the quickest pace without actually jogging. She rounded a gentle left hand curve in the roadway and knew she was getting close to arriving at Cleric Robert's house.
Suddenly nearly winded and out of breath she came to a halt staring at Cleric Robert's quaint little cottage. She gulp down air. She needed to be as direct and presentable about the next few moments of her life. Gray-white smoke curled softly upwards into the sky from a white stone chimney. She approached the small white gate that allowed access into the brown grassy yard that was surrounded by a white picket fence. She lifted the latch on the gate and entered onto a flat stone walkway that led to the door of the house itself. The house was crimson in color with a solid white door in its center. Two large glass windows stood to either side of the door with various plants standing out predominately inside of the windows.
Kelly approached the large white door and knocked upon its surface. There was no immediate answer and she waited patiently a moment while tapping her foot excitedly and then knock once more. This time she heard a scuffling noise of slippered feet shuffling on the floor behind the door. The door opened just enough to where a man who appeared to be in his late forties in a red and white cleric's robe peeked his head out through the crack in the doorway.
The cleric looked shocked for an instant and then a smile swiftly crossed his features. "Kelly An'Tanis, my child." he absently tried to wave the wispy fog away. "What a pleasant surprise to see you. But, does it have to be so mercifully foggy this morning. What are you needing, my child?" His voice was hoarse and raspy from just being roused from sleep, but carried with it a note of curiosity.
Kelly An'Tanis looked deeply into the cleric's clear blue eyes. "Cleric Robert, I had a dream about Traxias last night. I must talk to you. This is very critical and I am a bit nervous. I do not know if I know how to go about things since the dream and can I come inside, please. I am somewhat dazed and confused about the dream and--" she raised a palm to her mouth and shook her head.
Cleric Robert rubbed his nose, then his chin, and relented casually. "Why, yes, child. Come in. Come in." He opened the door wider, and moved back inside the doorway to allow Kelly to enter the house. He slowly closed the door behind her and turned to the young appearing woman in front of him. He knew that she was not young by any means. She was over three hundred years old, but in appearance only looked to be twenty-five at the most. She was shapely and stood where she was with a stiffness to her back, but still stood shaking her head in befuddlement. She displayed a beautiful oval face with deep sky blue eyes and a nose in the shape to fit her face. Her long auburn hair cascaded down her back to her waist. Cleric Robert eyed her seriously and then said to her in an extremely compassionate voice. "Now, child. What is it that I can help you with? I will help you in any way that I can. That is if it is in my power to do so."
Kelly showed a stressed emotional look upon her facial features as she blurted out. "Cleric Robert, can we please sit down." She pulled her long auburn hair behind both of her ears and finished. "I believe what we have to talk about will be lengthy."
Cleric Robert slowly reached out and put both hands upon Kelly's tense shoulders rubbing them gently. "Certainly, my child. Let us take it easy now. We have the time. Go over there and seat yourself in the chair on the left by the fire. I will pour us some tea and honey and be right back."
Kelly walked across the soft red and white-checkered carpet of the modest room and seated herself in a very comfortable cushioned chair setting in front of a cheerfully crackling fire. She rested her new white oak staff against a black oak table situated between her chair and another comfortable cushioned chair. She waited with impatience, bouncing her knees in the excitement of finally being able to reveal at last the workings of her dream.
Cleric Robert came over the table, set a cup of tea and honey on the black oak table next to her and then sat himself down in the chair on the right setting his own cup on the table. "Now, child. Tell me about this dream of yours. And calm down. I will hear you out completely." He looked at her with deep curiosity and waited for her to start speaking.
Kelly took in a deep breath of air, sighed, and stopped drumming her knees up and down putting her hands between her now completely still kneecaps. "It was so strange, Cleric Robert. I dreamed that Traxias appeared before me with this white oak staff in his hands"--she pointed at the staff that was leaning against the table--"and this--"she reached down in her leather belt pouch opening the clasp. She pulled out the item wrapped in blue silk cloth. She unwrapped what was inside showing it to Cleric Robert.
The cleric's eyes grew as large as they would go. He raised his eyebrows and his jaw dropped momentarily, and blurted out. "What is that, Kelly An'Tanis? It is so beautiful to behold."
Kelly eyed "The Peace Stone" while moving it closer to the cleric's face. "Traxias called it "The Peace Stone." He gave me a task for this. I am to take it to a place called Mount Charnel in the far away Kingdom of Quentaria and deposited it upon a white altar in a special cave there. He said when it was united with the right white altar it would start to glow and it has a power manifested inside of it to create peace and tranquility throughout the Ten Kingdoms of the continent of Babashalon. But, in order for it to become active it must reach its destination and rest upon the correct white marble altar."
The cleric's face now bore a look of total mystification. "My Lord, child!" the cleric exhaled a large breath of air. "That is incredible, child!" He reached out and fingered the white stone with a forefinger. "That there stone has the power to achieve all of that. That is totally amazing! Now, I understand you dazed and confused state of mind."
Kelly eyed Cleric Robert and her lips moved rapidly in her last hast to expel her next words. "He also told me to form a party and begin the journey this morning. You have some of the means for this part of it. I need you to send messenger pigeons to Sandra, Corey, Elijah, and Sabrina. I want them to meet us in the village of Quarr at The Inn of a Thousand Dreams and begin this quest. We will need to buy horses when we arrive at the village. Stablemaster Brinn should have some mounts available. I am banking on Elijah as the sneaky thief that he is that he has a purse of gold and silver to fulfill our wants and needs on this journey."
The cleric looked at Kelly with a questioning look upon his round face. "Slow it down, child. You are moving too fast. First of all, we have to find a replacement for you at the schools. We will have to go to the school administrator so they can find somebody to replace you. I am certain the old hag, pardon my mouth at times, will not be happy about that, but maybe I will be able to persuade her. I do hold a certain amount of power and influence around here. I will have to tell High Cleric Fernal to oversee my duties at the church while I am gone." He rubbed at his chin profusely. "That will probably take at least a week's time, I am thinking. He will not be happy about that set of circumstances either."
"You mean that you will go with me, Cleric Robert?" Kelly said excitedly, then quickly settled back down, hoping the cleric would be convince to go along. "I figured that I would have to convince you to come along with me. I did not know that you would be so accepting of the whole idea."
"Child, listen very close a moment. This is very important. If Traxias wants us to do this than it must be done. I am a man of peace and tranquility and I obey my loving God, Traxias. I would greatly enjoy it if all the Ten Kingdoms of Babashalon came together in the name of peace and tranquility. If that stone you have there has the power to create this peace and tranquility, I must go with you. Are you disturbed, however, by the possible week's wait before we get our replacements?"
"Well, yes I am, Cleric Robert." Kelly said, a worried look overshadowing her face. "I expected to leave this morning as Traxias commanded me to do. It sounded as though that is the way he wanted to be."
The cleric wrinkled up his forehead and expressed a look of deep concern. "Then, I suggest we go to the school administrator immediately. Then we will visit High Cleric Fernal at the church and lay down to him exactly what you have told me about Traxias' commandments. He is a god-fearing man and will certainlyu understand the desperation of this matter. He will probably find it so important that he will do all the running of the church to himself. I suggest we momentarily write messages to the others, go out to the pigeon cote, and send the pigeons on their way." Cleric Robert did not wait on Kelly's approval of his words. He rose swiftly to his feet and walked over to his writing desk and sat down upon the hard oak chair in front of it. He grabbed an inkbottle, feather quill, and box of writing sand. He began urgently writing the messages he would wire to the pigeon's legs, and release them so they would arrive at their destinations as fast as possible. It was a good thing that the others who were forming the rest of the party only lived within a hundred miles of where he and Kelly were now at.
Kelly stared into the crackling fire as she listened to Cleric Robert going through the process of writing out the messages. She was about to start a journey and she knew that the journey was one of the greatest importance as well as perilous. She eyed Cleric Robert's back as he sat slumped over the desk madly writing the two messages on small pieces of parchment. After about half an hour the cleric finally to Kelly's relief put his feather quill and inkbottle away and opened the box of writing sand scattering it upon the wet ink. He sifted it around upon the messages and, satisfied with his work, he put the box of writing sand back into its place. He began to tightly roll up the messages and then put them inside cat leg bones. Once finished he picked up the candle in front of him and sealed the opened ends of the bones with wax. He then marked the bones so the right message went with the right bird and deposited the bones into one of the many pockets of his robe. "I suggest we go to the school administrator's house immediately, Kelly." He bounced up off the hard oak chair while gathering his crimson and white traveling cloak and put it on. He banked the fire and began blowing out the candles out around the room putting it in semi-darkness, except for the light that came through the large windows.
Kelly, herself, rose to her feet, picked up her new staff that had been leaning against the black oak table between the chairs, and followed Cleric Robert to the door. They purposely exited the front of the cottage. They went around the right hand corner of the cottage, along the outside wall and soon their were the sounds of pigeons cooing. They went around the back of the house where the pigeon cote was located. Seven pigeons in different colorings filled a medium-sized cage. On the far side of the cage was a stand where Cleric Robert would wire the messages onto the bird's legs with sturdy wire. He reached into the cage and quickly pulled out a certain bird. It cooed at him as he gently picked it up and removed it from the cage. He looked at Kelly and said. "This here is Sofi. She flies to the village of Ariael to where I believe Sandra and Sabrina are living. Am I correct, Kelly?"
"Yes, Cleric Robert. You are correct. Corey and Elijah are in Tennase."
"That is swell. Pura, here, flies back and forth to Tennase." He pointed to a light green and white pigeon cooing lightly inside of the cage. "Marvelous creatures these are, Kelly. They keep me informed on the important things that are going on in all the other churches. Then I take the information to High Cleric Fernal so that he can make decisions and such." He raised the pigeon that was flying to the village of Ariael in his hand and let it take wing. It flew in a northeastern direction. He then reached into the cage again, and retrieved the pigeon that flew to Tennase and wired the message bone to its leg. He let it fly off in a northern direction, looked at Kelly, and said. "Well, that is accomplished." He reached to the right side of the cage where he stored the birdseed and water for the birds. He spread a thick coat of birdseed on the floor of the cage and filled their water dish from a stone urn sitting beside the large bag of birdseed. "I will have to tell High Cleric Fernal to feed my birds while I am gone." He closed the cage door and hastily began walking back around to the front of the cottage. Kelly followed closely behind him.
They came to the gate, and Kelly said. "Are you up to this, Cleric Robert?" she asked.
"Of course, I am, child. This is very important. Just you figure it as the both of us obeying the godly commands of Traxias. Also, figure it as imperative that we do follow Traxias's commands. We must convince the school administrator and High Cleric Fernal that we must get that stone to Mount Charnel."
The two of them passed through the gate, turned left on the dusty Valley Road, and began walking in earnest in the direction of the school administrator's house.
Kelly was happy that the school administrator only lived about a mile away, and that the church itself was only a mile further on from the administrator's house. They both desperately needed to be on their way as soon as possible. But, Kelly being worried that the old school administrator would not agree to let her go on such short notice painted a gloomy outlook upon the features of her face.
The cleric eyed Kelly's downcasted face as they walked beside each other down the roadway. He then said to her in a reassuring voice. "Do not look so frustrated, child. I will take care of everything. You will see. You will see."
Kelly let a small smile to cross her lips. "I hope that you are right, Cleric Robert. I am very nervous and scared right now. Not at the things that Traxias commanded me to do, but hoping that the school administrator and High Cleric Fernal will let us both go."
"Indeed, child. I have been praying to Traxias for helping us resolve this situation."
The two of them walked the rest of the way to the school administrator's house in quiet silence. The birds in the trees surrounding them were singing and chirping merrily in the branches.
Within moments they came to the school administrator's house that stood back in the wood off to the right side of the roadway. No fence bordered the surrounding yard because what little area of the the yard there was, towering ponderosa pine trees sheltered the yellow house in all directions. A narrow pathway lead to a garish green door to the left side of the house.
Cleric Robert led Kelly off the dusty roadway, down the pathway between the trees, and up to where they were standing in front of the garish green door. The cleric knocked three times light on the door, and Kelly and him waited patiently for the door to be answered. Smoke was softly curling from a stone chimney, so at least there was a fire burning inside of the house. Cleric Robert standing disappointedly and dismayed hammered on the garish green door with his clutched fist and finally was rewarded--if that was the proper word to be used--when an elderly woman dressed in a flowing red robe opened the door wide.
The gray-haired old woman seeing Kelly standing beside Cleric Robert, blurted out loudly. "Kelly An'Tanis! What are you doing here? You should be at the schoolhouse teaching you students! This is not proper, young lady!" The old woman had a cross look upon her face. "I believe that you have some serious explaining to do here! Do you not?"
Kelly looked the old woman square in the face, and replied in a tense voice. "Administrator Colina. It is imperative that I speak with you. I have a critical problem that must be resolved between us. Can we come inside, please?"
The old woman's expression changed from cross-looking to one of befuddlement. She raised her right palm to her chest cradling it with her left. "Well, Kelly An'Tanis! What is it? What is your critical problem?"
Holding back sudden intensified emotions, Kelly said. "Administrator Colina, what I have to say to you is going to be lengthy. May we come inside, please? I will explain myself fully and clearly."
The old woman stepped back, and opened the door wider to let the two of them proceed inside of her house. She led them to a large, expensive-looking room of the dwelling. Tapestries of different colors and different scenes hung limply on the walls in various places. A huge fireplace popped and crackled merrily being nestled against one wall with a fluffy-cushioned, two-seated sofa, and a plush comfortable chair facing the sofa. A large dark oak table sat between the sofa and the chair. Upon its gleaming surface was a globe of clear crystal with the image of a white angel encased inside of it. It was a beautiful trinket to lay eyes upon.
The old administrator looked both Kelly and Cleric Robert in the eye, then with a scowl she said. "Come on, you two. Sit down upon the sofa and we will speak."
Kelly and Cleric Robert both made their way to the sofa sitting down upon its soft surface. Kelly thumbed her nose as she waited impatiently for the old woman to seat herself in her chair.
The old woman sat down in a huff, and said. "Now! What is your supposed critical problem, Kelly An'Tanis?" she said gruffly.
"I am sorry to say this, Administrator Colina." Kelly stablized and composed herself. "But, I must make an urgent journey right away. I have no time for any more problems. It is of the essence that I leave the valley immediately and without further delay!"
The cross look returned to the old woman's face, and she blurted out, spreading spittle across the table in a spray. "That, Kelly An'Tanis, is impossible! You have a responibility here to teach your students and to teach them well! You are an excellent instructor and do an excellent job of teaching them! What would your students do if you left them with half their studies completed? Again, it is impossible! Forget about your little critical problem! You are staying here and teaching your students! Is that clear, Kelly An'Tanis?"
Kelly tightened her own face into an expression of flaring anger and answered the old woman in a violently powerful voice. "I am leaving right now, administrator! Right now, I say!"
Cleric Robert who had been silent throughout this exchange suddenly spoke up in a deep voice. "I am sorry, Madam Administrator, but what Kelly says is true. You must listen to me for a moment. I am after all a brother and a leader of your church. Kelly and I must leave immediately and without question and you are not going to stop us for doing s--"
"No!" the old woman interrupted Cleric Robert. "This cannot be!" She said in a stern voice. "I will not be chastised in this way! Kelly! You get yourself to your schoolhouse immediately, and do not question my authority! You, Cleric Robert should be ashamed of yourself for asking me to let Kelly take her leave! This is entirely impossible!"
The cleric eyed the administrator with a somber look of contempt. "Administrator Colina! Kelly and I are leaving. Right this minute! Do you understand me? If you have to teach the students yourself, so be it! But! We leave now!" He rose quickly to his feet and Kelly followed his lead. They both headed in the direction of the door. Cleric Robert opened the door while he listened to the shrill voice echoing from inside of the house.
"You two will never get away with this! Mark my words, you will not! I--"
Her voice cut off as Cleric Robert slammed the door behind them.
"Come on, Kelly. We must make hast to get to the church so I can tell High Cleric Fernal what we are about to do. It will probably stand the few hairs on his head out in all directions when he hears what we have to say to him. At least he is a god-fearing man and will understand a whole lot better than that old biddy did. Let us be off. Daylight is burning and we have many miles to cover yet on this day."
The two of them walked along the short winding pathway to the Valley Road, turned right, and began making their way toward the church. Within twenty minutes the pair were standing in the middle of the road in front of the small church standing to their left. The church had a large bell tower and two large bronze bells that made a dull, but loud sound that echoed throughout the valley every Sunday morning. The church was devoted to the teachings and believers of Traxias' faith. Nearly everybody in the outlying farms and others came to the church on Sunday to renew their faith in Traxias. It was a basic-looking church with whitewashed walls and two large oak doors that entered the front of the building with white marble steps leading up to them. The front area of the structure was a small courtyard made of crushed white marble and a life-sized white marble statue of Traxias stood in the center on the right hand side of the courtyard.
Cleric Robert turned to Kelly, and said. "Well, child. Let us hope High Cleric Fernal is not in one of his famous bad moods. He does not show his temperamental side to people who come here on Sunday, but I am, after all, his underling. Let us go inside and pray that he is in an accepting mood this morning."
"I am praying, Cleric Robert. Believe me." Kelly sia with a small smile. She then followed the cleric up the marble steps and through the large doors of the church.
Thirty white oak pews were neatly arranged in two rows with a wide walking aisle that led between them toward the main altar where Cleric Robert recited his service each and every Sunday morning. All the walls were filled with colorful and artistic tapestries depicting scenes of Traxias performing all sorts of miracles. The abundant windows on two of the long walls were stained glass, and the sunlight filtered and glittered through on the east side while on the west side what daylight made it through the stained glass window lit up that side of the vast room.
As it happened a tall skinny man dressed in a crimson red robe with white satin sleeves was standing at the altar reading and studying something on the altar as Kelly and Cleric Robert entered the church. The old man with a long hooked nose raised his eyes when he heard the door open in front of him and bright light spilled into the room. Then the brightness of the light coming through the doors disappeared as both Kelly and Cleric Robert closed the doors behind them with a soft thumping sound.
High Cleric Fernal looked down along the long aisle to the cleric and the young woman standing in front of him. In a deep resonate sounding voice he said to them. "Come. Come forward. It is a wonderful blessed day to have you two in this church on this beautiful day. Come forward."
Cleric Robert led Kelly down the aisle to where they stood in front of the church leader who still stood behind the white marble altar.
High Cleric Fernal looked down at the pair with cataract-filled eyes, and said to them in a cheerful voice. "A good morning to you, Cleric Robert. And to you, too, Kelly An'Tanis. What may I do for you two this morning?"
Cleric Robert rubbed his right forefinger under his nose eyeing the high cleric with a look of concern. "High Cleric Fernal, we have a dire need to talk to you about. We have a critical problem to discuss with you."
The high cleric gave the pair one of his rare half smiles. "You make it sound as if something important has happened or certainly going to happen. What is it, Cleric Robert?"
"Sir," the cleric bowed slightly. "May we seat ourselves in a pew, please?"
"Certainly we can." The high cleric stepped from behind the altar, down a step to the floor, and sat down in the nearest pew. "Come. Sit down." He patted the white oak pew on his left side.
Kelly and Cleric Robert came over and sat down beside the old high cleric. Kelly sat next to the old man while Cleric Robert took up position on the other side of Kelly.
"Do not beat around a bush with me, Cleric Robert. Tell me what your . . . ah . . . what was it . . . your . . . critical problem? Tell me now."
"Maybe it would be best, sir, if Kelly here told you. After all, she was the one who had the dream."
The high cleric's eyebrows rose and his face showed a look of perplexed confusion. "Dream? What dream?" he asked softly.
Kelly turned and faced the old man and told him the whole tale of her dream about Traxias. When she finished her story she lowered her head looking at the white oak floorboards. "So you understand, sir, why Cleric Robert and I must go on this journey. Do you not, sir?"
The high cleric rubbed his pointed chin generously. "I see that beautiful white staff you have there, Kelly. Can I happen to have you show me "The Peace Stone," please?"
A wide bright smile crossed Kelly facial features. She reached down and unclasped her leather belt pouch. She pulled out the item wrapped in blue silk cloth. She slowly and carefully unwrapped the gleaming white stone and brought it up to where it was directly in front of the old high cleric's face. "This is the stone that was left under my pillow this morning, sir. Just think, sir. This here stone has the power to bring peace and tranquility to the entire Ten Kingdoms of the continent of Babashalon. I just have to get this beautiful white stone to Mount Charnel, find the right cave and white marble altar, place the stone upon the altar and leave. But, I have to do it all without anyone knowing about what my party and I are doing. That is the hard part about it all. It is a very long way to the Kingdom of Quentaria and Mount Charnel. So, I hope you see, sir, why I must take Cleric Robert with me on this journey when I leave the valley.
The high cleric looked at Cleric Robert and Kelly in turn and then sighed deeply. "Well, Cleric Robert. I can see no reason whatsoever that you cannot leave. I will take care of the church in your absence. I am a man of love and peace and tranquility and if that there stone has the power encased inside it to bring love, peace, and tranquility throughout the Ten Kingdoms then I say you must go with Kelly and get this stone to Mount Charnel. Go with my blessings, both of you. I will be praying for your safe return. Now. I have a missal that I want to read and study. When you do return, Cleric Robert, rest assured that I will have plenty of things to occupy your time. Now, be off with you two." The old man slowly rose and walked back up to where he was standing behind the white marble altar once again. He then looked up from the missal eyeing Cleric Robert and Kelly and said. "Have a safe journey and may Traxias watch over you." He then looked back down at the missal and began reading and studying it again.
Cleric Robert looked at the old high cleric and said to him. "Sir? There is one thing I wish to ask you to do for me while I am away."
The old man looked across the top of the altar to the cleric and asked. "What would that be, Cleric Robert?"
"I was just wondering if you could feed and water my pigeons while I am away?"
"Why, certainly, Cleric Robert. Now. Off with you two."
Kelly and Cleric Robert rose to their feet, and made their way to the doors and out of the church. Cleric Robert shut the doors behind them and said. "I must get my pack and magic battle mace. It looks as though you will need you own pack of goods also Kelly. We will put something together when we get to your cottage."
Kelly looked as though she were going to say somthing on the subject, but instead she said. "You know something, Cleric Robert?"
"What is that, child?"
"I still do not have my little owl, Peko. Traxias said I would have him when I left."
"Do not worry child. If Traxias said Peko would appear before you left, he will appear before we leave. Mark my words."
Cleric Robert and Kelly made their way toward their houses to gather their equipment. The sun was at its zenith in the sky. There was not a cloud of darkness to be seen crossing over it. Kelly hoped that one would not suddenly appear.
Polmar Draton eyed the pips on the four dice he had rolled and frowned down upon them. Four pips greeted his eyes. Laughter broke out from the other three men gathered at the table of the inn's common room. Polmar sat back, sighed deeply, and glared at the other three men. "It is just not my day for dicing, I see." he said loudly. The other men burst out in another round of full-blown laughter. "I am done for the day." He gathered his few gold coins setting in front of him and stood up his seven foot tall frame. He boasted shoulders as wide as an axe handle is long and his biceps were the size of most men's thighs. He was a lone brawler who had never in his life lost a brawl. He had no need for weapons, for his weapons were his quick hands and lightning fast feet. Weapons were for sissies, Polmar believed. He was about to open the inn door to exit the inn when the door flew inward nearly hitting him square in the face. He stepped back quickly and watched as another tall man--not as tall as he--entered the inn. He wore a long black wizard's robe and a thick black cloak. He had long, stringy black hair and mustache and beard. Polmar knew the man well. It was black wizard Tratalis Moranan from Castle Barea.
"Polmar!" the black wizard said to him. "Just the man I wanted to see. I must talk to you immediately. Come outside. What I have to talk to you about must not be overheard by anyone."
The two of them made their way outside to where they stood on the boardwalk of the inn. No one was passing by within hearing distance, so Tratalis spoke to Polmar in a whisper anyway.
"I need your assistance, Polmar. I have a task for you to do."
Polmar frowned, then whispered back. "What is it, Tratalis? I am already having a bad day."
"Does fifty gold crowns sound interesting to you, Polmar."
The frown immediately left Polmar's face, and he leaned closer to Tratalis. "What do you have for me now, Tratalis? Killing a King somewhere? That is an awful lot of gold."
"I need you to gather Menzol and Triton. I am forming a party to go on a mission for King Belare."
Polmar cocked his head, and raised his eyebrows. "A mission for the King? What would that be, Tratalis?"
"Never you mind, Polmar. Just gather up Menzol and Triton and meet me at my room in the castle within the hour. We will watch the beheading of war minister Warren at sundown, and at sunup we will be off on the mission for King Belare."
"Where are we going on this mission, if I may be so bold to ask, Tratalis?"
"We are going to a small village in the Kingdom of Sardia called Quarr. Then from there we will see just where the mission goes."
"Quarr, huh?" Polmar said. "Never heard of the place."
"Never you mind, now. Go and gather up Menzol and Triton, and meet me in my room in an hour." Tratalis turned, and walked away heading on his way back to his room in the castle.
Polmar Draton stood on the boardwalk watching the black wizard walking away from him and to the castle. Sometimes he hated the man, but he had to be very careful. Tratalis was no man to mess with. He had seen the man work his magic in the past, and he did not want any of that black magic to be used on him. So, the black wizard wanted him to gather up Menzol and Triton? He walked down the two rickety wooden steps of the inn, and turned left in the direction to where he would meet up with Triton. He hoped he did not disturb the man making love to one of the local whores. The man had a bad temper to start with. Barging in on him during one of his wild escapades would probably get Polmar a possible thrashing. The man was an animal at the best of times, and a demon monster at the worst.
Finally Polmar came to Triton's house sitting back away from the street. It was an ugly-looking house, more less nothing but a shack. It had never been painted, and the walls were rotted clear through in many places. The thatched roof, if you could call it that, was missing the thatch in countless places, and probably leaked water like a bucket with a bottom full of holes. Miraculously, the door was actually closed tight. Polmar walked up to the rickety old door, and knocked on it softly fearing that it would collapse in pieces. No one answered, so he waited a moment, and pounded on the door harder. The door actually shook.
"Go away, I am sleeping?" shouted a growling voice from inside.
Polmar shook his head slowly back and forth, and pounded on the door once again.
"I told you to go away. I have a terrible headache, and I want to sleep it away. If you do not go away, I am going to give your butt a swift kicking."
"Triton!" Polmar shouted at the rickety door. "Tratalis sent me to get you, and bring you to him at the castle! He has a mission for us. There is fifty gold crowns to be had for you."
There were suddenly the sounds of thing being rustled around inside the house, and then the door opened slowly letting in the daylight inside. Triton shaded his eyes from the piercing light, and stuck his long, stringy haired head out between the crack in the door. "What do you want, Polmar? Make it quick, and it better be good, or I will give you a thrashing like you would not believe."
Polmar stepped back a step from the massive man, and repeated what he had said before.
"Is that right." Triton said in a more passive voice. "Tell you what I will do, Polmar. You tell Tratalis I will meet him at the castle when I gather myself together."
"I do not think that will do, Triton."
"It will have to do. Now, go before you get your little butt thrashed!"
Polmar grinned at the hung-over man, and continued in the same direction to Menzol's house. He heard a curse, and the door slammed behind him. Menzol would be a lot easier to deal with. For one thing she did not drink, but was still dangerous when angered. It was not that far away. He whistled lightly as he walked along. Within moments, he came to Menzol's house, which was situated on the right side of the street. Menzol's house was in the opposite condition as Triton's was. It was painted blue with white trim, and neat and quaint. Polmar approached the door, and knocked on it softly. The door immediately opened wide, and a short, petite woman dressed in a long flowing yellow robe stood in the open doorway. Her hair was dark black, and cascaded down to the middle of her back. She had dark brown eyes, nearly black, and had a short pug-like nose.
Smiling, she said. "Polmar, good morning to you. What brings you to my house at this time of the day?"
"I am here by request of Tratalis the black wizard." Polmar said lightly. "He needs you desperately, Menzol."
"Just why is that, Polmar?" she asked.
"He is forming a party to go on a mission for King Belare. I do not know really what it is yet, but it sounds very important, indeed. Could you ready yourself and meet us in Tratalis' room at the castle within the hour?"
"I will do my best, Polmar. Now leave me alone, and I will ready myself." she said in a musical voice.
Polmar smiled at her brightly. He watched her close the door softly behind him, and began making his way slowly to the castle. Once there, he would tell Tratalis that he had recruited his two members of the party, and that they would soon meet him in his room.
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